Illuminated flying target



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(NoModel.)

J. H. JACOBS.

ILLUMINATED FLYING- IAIIGET.

Patented Nov. 27, 1888..

M35-@LM @ha/ww,

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. H. JACOBS.

ILLUMINATED FLYING TARGET.

WVM/wow I awww/V60i a, hm. 'JEH Z ma UNITED STATES NPATENT OEETCE.

JOSEPH H. JACOBS, OF A'ICI-IISON, KANSAS..

ILLUMINATED FLYING TARGET.

SPECIFICATION iorrning part of Letters Patent No. 393,435, dated November 27, 1888.

Application filed January 3l, 1858. Serial No. 269.509. (No model.)

T all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, JOSEPH H. JAeoBs, of Atchison, Atchison county, Kansas, have invented` a new and Improved Illuminated Flying Target, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying'drawings, forminga part hereof.

My invention relates to dying targets; and it may be said to consist inthe devices and the peculiar construction, comination, and arrangement of devices hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims, the object being to produce a target for all-around use, either in day-time or after darkness sets in.

In the drawings, which illustrate the manner of carrying out my invention, Figure l is a perspective view of the improved target de void of all illuminating attachments. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the carrier in which the target is placed to be thrown from the trap. Fig. 3 is a plan of a target located in the carrier. Fig. Je is an elevation in section, the section being taken on line x x, Fig. 3,and' the different illuminating devices being in position. Fig. 5 is a detail view in perspective of the attachment used in illuminating the under side of the target. Fig. 6 is a detail seetion showing a portion ofthe shell,the section being taken on line 2 2, Fig. 3; and Fig. 7 is a detail View of a device used to illuminate `the upper side of the target.

. get, leaving substantially square offsets or ledges c, as shown.

The body oi' the target is made thicker at the periphery and of course thinner as it recedes therefrom. At the periphery the surface is made substantially at right angles to the plane of the target,and the interior of this surface is traversed by groove 3, and a corresponding annular rib, 7, is located on the exterior of this surface directly opposite said groove. An annular groove, 9, is formed in the body some distance above the rib 7, and short transverse grooves l2 arelocated radially in the body of the target. These latter are shown more clearly in Figs. 3 aud 4f, while in Fig. l a variation of construction is shown, the grooves l2 being supplanted by ribs 13, which construction is obviously just the reverse of that shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

In Fig. l all that has been done is to locate the short ribs 13 on the exterior surface of the body instead of on the inside thereof. This change will be better explained by referring to Fig. 6. The body of the target may be made of any suitable brittle material; but, preferably, it is composed of some of the different solid coal-tar products or pitchy substances, Which can be molded or pressed in forms to proper shape.

The comparatively heavy rim ofthe target acts as a balancering,and the interior groove, 3,is adapted to hold the lower illuminating attachment, 2.'

The target is rcalily broken when a shot strikes any part thereof'. The target may be illuminated by means of diffcrentforms of devices attached thereto in any preferred manner. Some of my preferred devices I will new proceed to describe.

For illuminating the upper side of the target, I secure two or more luses or fusees, 4, to a rubber band, S, by means of ashort wire connection, 1r0,which lat ter separates the fuse and the rubber, preventing destruction of the lattcr by burning. I then stretch said rubber band around the body of the target in the groove 9, as clearlyshowu iu Fig. 3; or [stretch said rubber band directly across the upper side of the target, as indicated by dotted lines in said figure. In the latter case said rubber baud is attached to the target by means of oppositely-located lugs b, which are cast in position, said rubber band being hooked thereovcr during use. It is obvious that said lugsb can either be formed integral with the body of the target, of the same material, or they can be supplanted by metallic pins secured in position in any desired manner.

For illuminating the under side of the target, I provide a removable or detachable plate or piece of pasteboard or wood, 2, of suitable length to extend across the interior of the target and having its respective ends sprung into the groove 3, and secure suitable fuses, 4., to the under side of this detachable plate by means of wires il), as shown.

It is evident that other styles of illuminat- IOO u at.

ing devices can be used, and that numerous slight changes in the manner of securing these devices to the target could be resorted to without departing from the scope and spirit of my invention; hence I wish it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise construction herein shown, but consider myself entitled to all such variations as come within theseope of my invention.

rIhe devices for illuminating the ripper side of the target can be used alone, and the devices for illuminating the under side can also be used without any connection whatever with those on the upper side, and vice versa. Another illuminatingdevice is in the form of a fuse or fusec, 5, which is located in an aperture, such as 6, formed in the disk 3 and projecting upwardly as great a distance as may be desired.` A number of these can be used. if so desired, by providing suitable apertures. Of course this latter arrangement is not to be used when the rubber cord 8 is stretched across the target, as, if it were, said cord would be burned and destroyed before the target has been shot It will be observed that the central device, 5, is sunken, so that it cannot bc struck by a shot. This, however, depends upon its length. The fuse or tusces can be made of paper, linen, cotton` or other suitable material, saturated with a solution ofsaItpeter,and can be readily ignited by merely touching with a live coal or lighted cigar, or in any desired man ner, before or after they have been put in the trap. A fuse or illuminating` device thus con structed will not be extinguished easily, but will show up in avery pretty way when t'lying through the air, and as the target revolves rap' idly it will show a perfect circle of sparkling fire, and thus atford a `splendid target to shoot at, and indicate plainly when hit by shot, as the circle will be broken and sparks of tire will scatter in all directions. A fuse prepared in this way with a solution of saltpeter will be perfectly safe in handling. and when ignited will burn comparatively slowly.

The length ofthe different fuses can be regnlated by cutting off according to whether the target is to make a long or short flight.

The fuses can be prepared so that they will throw off tires of different colors, ifso desir ed, thereby presenting` a more gorgeous spectacle than they otherwise would.

The different fuses arranged around the body ofthe target, as before described, can be lo cated in openings similar to the way in which the fuse 5 is located, although the rubber cord is much to be preferred for this purpose, as it will separate from the target when the latter breaks and indicate a hit more plainly. (Bcing lighter, it will not fall to the ground as fast as the broken pieces will.)

I have not deemed it necessary to show a complete trap for tlyingthis target, as no part thereof except the carrier relates to my present invention.

The carrier C is composed of a Y-shaped metallic frame, which is provided at rear with a lug, e, for attaching it to the arm ofthe trap. The target is to be placed upon the upper side ofthe frame, and is heldin place by means of stop 71 and a pair of llexible arms,d, which completely encircle the edge of the carrier and prevent its discharge until the proper time arrives. The lower ends of said arms are firmly secu red to the Y-shaped frame,and their free ends may be sprung outwardly when the target is inserted. Said yieldingarlns are lo cated opposite cach other, and they each carry near their outer ends a vertical standard,/", which is firmly secured thereto, and projectionsf,earried by said standards, also help to hold the target in position and keep it from tlying upwardly out ofthe carrier. One ofthe tlexible arms D has its free end extended a considerable distance, and tothe outer end of the other is hinged or pivoted a bar, E, which lat ter is curved to correspond with the curvature ofthe edge of the target. rIhe free end of said bar is provided with an aperture, t, which to be engaged by the end i of the opposite arm when holding a target in the carrier.

The operation of this arrangement is as fol lows: In flying a target the outward pressure of same on hinged bar E will be sufficient to disconnect it from the end i ofthe spring-arm, and the target will be discharged from the carrier and will begin its [light in the usual way. These operations are best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

lIaving thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A. tlying target provided with illuminating devices detachably secured thereto by means of an encircling elastic band, so that when the target is broken they will be separated therefrom, substantially as described.

2. A tiying targetconsisting, essentially, ofa rim having a groove, a concavo'convex body, and an illuminating device detachable therefrom, which is held in position by an elastic band in engagement willi said groove, substantially as set forth. I

3. A `flying target consisting,cssentially,of a rim, a concave-convex body, an illuminating device detachable therefrom, a central disk, and an annular groove formed in the outer surface ofthe body and located some distance above said rim to receive an elastic band, for the purpose substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereofI affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH I-IuJACOBS.

Vitnesses:

Armas Nora., RDW. Il. SU'rTnn. 

